KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, LouisianaHolly Beach residents return home

Holly Beach residents return home

September 30, 2005

Reported by Pam Dixon

It's the most difficult chapter in the Rita saga, the day evacuees get to come home. We begin in Holly Beach, a community that bore the brunt of Rita's wrath.

The storm sent a 15 foot storm surge rolling through, destroying almost everything. But those who lost so much are determined to rebuild. 

A once scenic site along the Creole Nature Trail was hardly a match for what nature had in store when Hurricane Rita roared ashore Saturday. Six days later, Eric Monceaux is getting his first look at what's left of his rental cabin business.  All six cabins washed away in Rita's 15 foot storm surge.

Where most people see broken buildings and broken hearts, Eric and his wife Jackie see hope. Where wood and nails failed, friendships will set the new foundation for those with courage to come back and rebuild.

Just one week ago Holly Beach was lined with 400 camps.  Though most of the camps weren't primary homes, there were about 150 people who actually lived there and are now homeless  It took only a few hours for Hurricane Rita to destroy them all, and practically everything in them, but Rita did not destroy the spirit this community is known for.